Ireland now administers 70% of Europe's exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with the market growing by 41% in 2025 to pass €2.7 trillion in assets under management, according to new research by EY Ireland. ETFs are a diversified investment fund that track specific market assets, commodities, or sectors and trades like a stock. The global ETF market grew by 33%, from $14.9tn (€12.6tn) to $19.9tn (€16.8tn). While EY describes Ireland is the "engine room" of Europe's ETF market, with the regulatory and tax system attracting financial institutions to set up here, EY said the State's tax system acts as a barrier to individual investors here. Ireland's tax system means that domestic investors in ETFs face an exit tax of 38%, and ETFs are "deemed disposed" after eight years even if they haven't been sold.

Source: Irish Examiner February 27, 2026 00:18 UTC